Collapsible crate.



0. A. HUNTER.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 1915.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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B y r W/ T N E $5 E S THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

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OKA A. HUNTER, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 ROBERT B. EAGLE, OF KANSAfi CITY, KANSAS.

OOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Application filed June 14, 1915. Serial No. 33,877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OKA A. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in C01- lapsible Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible crates.

It is particularly adapted for the shipment of fowls, but may be used for various other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a collapsible crate which is cheap to manufacture; which is strong and durable and not liable to get out of order; which may be quickly extended to the operative position; and which may be as readily collapsed to fiat form, in which it will occupy small space and is adapted for return shipment at small expense.

My invention provides further novel means for releasably locking the crate in the extended position.

My invention provides still further a novel construction in which all of the parts of the crate at all times remain securely attached to each other, so that there is no liability of any of the parts becoming lost when the crate is collapsed and reshipped in such condition.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate shown extended, with the cover members shown raised. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the crate partially collapsed. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the crate shown extended, with the cover members in the closed horizontal position. Fig. 4 is a perspective, enlarged view of the mechanism at one end of the crate for locking the bottom members in the horizontal position, portions of the latter and of the sides and one end of the crate being shown.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

In the form shown in the drawing, the crate is rectangular and is provided with two vertical rectangular side members 1, each of which may be a rectangular metallic frame covered with wire netting. The ends of the crate preferably comprise each two members 2 hinged to each other, and hinged respectively to the side members 1 so as to be swung inwardly between and parallel with the side members. The bottom of the crate comprises, preferably, two members 3 respecti vely hinged at their outer edges to the slde members 1 at the lower edges thereof. The end members 2 are each provided with an lnwardly extending flange 4. The bottom members 3 in the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, rest upon the flanges 4. Said bottom members are adapted to be swung from the horizontal position to vertical positions at the'inner sides respectively of the side members 1, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 and as shown in Fig. 2. Hinged respectively to the upper edges of the side members 1 are two cover members 5, the hinged connection being such that the cover members may be swung from the horizontal closed position shown in Fig. 3 to vertical positions at the outer sides of and against the side members 1, as shown in Fig. 2. For locking the cover members 5 in the closed position, one of said members is provided with a staple 6 adapted to enter a hasp 7 secured to the other cover member and to be held in engagement therewith by a padlock not shown. For releasably holding the bottom members 3 from swinging upwardly from the horizontal position, I provide two members consisting, preferably, of two bars 8, which are respectively hinged to the side members 1 respectively adjacent to the opposite ends thereof. Each bar 8 is preferably disposed edge up and has a vertical aXis, whereby it may be swung from a horizontal position parallel with the adjacent side member 1,

to a transverse horizontal position over the bottom members 3, when the latter are in the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1. Respectively secured to the side members 1 are two staples 9 adapted to be extended respectively through two slots 10 provided one in each bar 8 adjacent to the free end thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. For retaining the staples 9 engaged with the bars 8, I provide two pins 11 respectively adapted to enter the staples 10 at the inner sides of the bars 8 respectively. The pins 11 are respectively attached by a chain 12 to the side members 1.

When the crate is to be extended from the collapsed position, the end members 2 ,are swung at right angles to the side members 1, following which the bottom members 3 are swung from the vertical osition to' the horizontal position on the flanges 4, as shown 9 will respectively extend through the slots 10 The pins 11 are then mounted in the staples 9 at the inner sides of theymembers 8. The crate may'then have placed init the things which areto be shipped, after which the" covers 5 may be swung to and locked to be returned er stored in the collapsed form, the operation just described is reversed. v i

I donot limit my invention to the structure shown and described,- as modifications, within the" scope of the appended claims, may beimade without departing from the spirit er my invention.

What I claim is 1. A collapsible crate comprising two side members, two ends, each comprising two members'liingedtopeach other and respectively hinged t osaid side members, two botten members respectively hinged to said side members so as to be swung from? a horizontal' position to a position parallel with the side member's, two cov e'r members respectively'hinged to the side members in a mannersuc'h that they may be swung from" a closed pesi-ti'on at right angles to the side members to an openposition at the outer si'de of and parallel with said side members, a locking member hinged to one of the side members so as to be swung from a position paralleltherewith to a horizontal position over the" bottom members,- when the latter are thehorizon'tal position, and releasable means for securing" the locking member in said horizontal position.-

22- A cellapsi'bl'e crate comprising two side members; we ends', each comprising two 1n the closed position. When the crate is members hinged to each other and respectively hinged to said side members, two bottom members respectively hinged to said side members so as to be swung from a horizontal position to a position parallel With the side members, two cover members respectively hinged to the side members in a manner such that they may be swung from a closed horizontal position to an open vertical position at the outer side of said side members, a locking member hinged to one of the side members so as to be swung from a position parallel therewith to a horizontal position over the bottom members, when the latter are in the horizontal position, the locking member having a slot, a staple secured to the other side member adapted to extend through said slot, and releasable means for holding the locking member engaged with said staple.

3. A collapsible crate comprising two side members, two ends, each comprising two members hinged to each other, and respectively hinged to said side members, two bottom members respectively hinged to said side members so as to be swung from a horizontal position to a position parallel with said side members and supported by said end members in the horizontal position, two cover members respectively hinged to the side members so as to be swung from aclosed horizontal position to a vertical position at the outer side of and against said side members respectively, a locking bar hinged to one of the side members so as to be swung from a position parallel therewith to a horizontal position over the bottom members for retaining the latter from swinging upwardly from said horizontal position, said locking member having a slot, a staple secured to the other side member and adapted to enter said slot, a locking pin adapted to engage said staple for retaining the locking member engaged therewith, and flexible means for securing the locking pin to the crate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

OKA; A. HUNTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pateutn. Wshin'gtonyl). C. 

